Bangladesh Embassy assures families of UAE crash victims on compensation

Many of the victims’ families have no money coming in since the deaths of their breadwinners, and many have been raising the issue of receiving compensation.

Powered by automated translation

ABU DHABI // The Bangladeshi Embassy has assured families of the Al Ain crash victims that compensation will be paid when the necessary court documents are submitted.

Many of the victims’ families have no money coming in since the deaths of their breadwinners, and many have been raising the issue of receiving compensation.

The crash nearly 10 days ago involved an overloaded lorry and a bus filled with workers. There were 19 Bangladeshis killed, along with an Indian and an Egyptian.

Latiful Haq Kazmi, labour counsellor at the embassy in Abu Dhabi, said the courts would determine the compensation amount for dependent families.

Legal papers are being prepared by the Bangladeshi government along with power of attorney letters from each family so that the embassy can file claims on their behalf.

Mr Kazmi said it generally took three to six months for compensation to come through after a case had been filed.

“How much time it takes we cannot speculate now, as it involves many people,” he said.

The Bangladeshi ministry of expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment has been coordinating with the victims’ families and collecting details.

Mr Kazmi said he had spoken to officials at the ministry about the necessary documents, including inheritance certificates. He said family members were not required to travel to the UAE to process documents needed for compensation.

“The ministry of Bangladesh and the mission in the UAE will do all and ensure their rights are met as per the UAE laws,” Mr Kazmi said.

“After attesting these documents from the ministry, they will be sent to the UAE Embassy in Bangladesh for attestation.

“Then finally the papers will reach us and the mission will start the compensation process.

“The mission also expects some humanitarian help for these people. Of course, funds will be generated for them but, after the repatriation of bodies ends and all the families receive them, then we will get on with the compensation and humanitarian help for them.”

He said the mission planned to file one joint case on behalf of all victims.

Mr Kazmi said many people had approached the mission and asked how best to help the families of the victims.

Families are expected to receive financial assistance from the courts, the government of Bangladesh, and charitable donors from the Bangladeshi community in the UAE.

Bangladesh has already paid the expenses for the last rites and funeral preparations.

Some families were concerned that their loved ones had been with the company for less than a year and would not receive compensation.

But Mr Kazmi said that after a road accident a victim's family would be compensated regardless of how long he had worked with a company.

anwar@thenational.ae